Meet the CEO of Waipā Networks  

Ever wondered what it’s like to be the CEO of a community-owned business? Meet Sean Horgan, our Chief Executive Officer at Waipā Networks, who has some interesting insights to share.

Sean’s been working in the industry for around 30 years and started as a Commercial Analyst at the Huntly Power Station in 1995. After several roles within the Generation sector, he moved offshore and worked in the UK and Asia for seven years. Sean returned to NZ in 2010, working within the Distribution side of the electricity industry. With such a wealth of experience, it’s safe to say Sean knows the industry inside out.

According to Sean, the biggest change in the industry is how people use electricity–whether in the home or to fuel their car. He believes that households and businesses will become “electricity hubs” that generate, store, and optimise how they use electricity in the future.

Looking towards the future of Waipā Networks, Sean’s excited about the significant changes happening in the industry and how we can support our customers and community through this transition. Waipā Networks is well-positioned to adapt and meet this challenge as a small, community-owned business.

Sean is also passionate about community work and is proud that Waipā Networks is a community-owned organisation. We cycle our profits back to our customers and adopt several initiatives to support our community – these include gifting 65,000 LED bulbs to households and sponsoring community events such as the recent Waipā Networks Business Awards.

One thing that strikes you about Sean is his pride in the crew at Waipā Networks. He was particularly proud of how they responded to Cyclone Gabrielle to restore power to the community. He says, “Our people are very proud of what they do and of Waipā Networks – it makes for a great environment to work within”.

And finally, a fun fact about Sean – he was awarded the rank of Honourable Colonel by the Governor of Kentucky in 2018, the same as Colonel Sanders of KFC fame! Who knew?

With Sean’s wealth of knowledge and vision for the future, we can’t wait to see how Waipā Networks continues to evolve under his leadership.